The Your Stories section is all about you! Please take a minute to tell visitors of the ILGA website about what LGBTI life is like in reality. Please submit your personal story and share your experience!
Kate Hunt, a high school student in Florida, USA, faces prison – all because her girlfriend's anti-gay parents were angry that their daughter was dating another young woman. They went to police just two days after Kaitlyn's 18th birthday, claiming she had assaulted a minor.
If Kate is found guilty of "sexual battery" she could face 15 years in prison. But this isn't about a crime – this is about a consenting, high school romance between teenagers little more than two years apart in age. Please sign here to tell Florida Assistant State Attorney Brian Workman to drop the charges.
I am a documentary filmmaker, gay, and have just completed a film called STRAIGHT LINE CURVE. It showcases seven successful gay men of the USA Southwest who do not fit the stereotypes often associated with homosexuality. Each man has a high profile and is fulfilled, optimistic, inspirational and proud.
I believe this film offers the world a wonderful and motivational look at the gay journey, which few people in the general populace knows exists...but it does! This 32-minute film is available on DVD.
Ed Breeding, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
email: breeding4051@comcast.net
www.ed-breeding.artistwebsites.com
Allied NATO Government is hiding millions of infectious NON HIV AIDS cases (like mine) under the "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)" ICD-code.
My case goes up through the White House, NIH, CDC, WHO, to the United Nations. I recently testified on a federal-level in Washington, DC, and have been published 12 times on 4 continents.
UK PROGRESSIVE published one of my letters about NON HIV AIDS. This topic has been censored from mainstream media since 1992 (i.e., circa Gulf War I).
I hope that you will support this humanitarian issue, and spread-the-news too (e.g., write a story, add to your e*Newsletter and/or post on Facebook/Twitter).
In the fight for humanity,
k
My life with NON HIV AIDS (including my federal testimony):
www.cfsstraighttalk.blogspot.com
Or simply google "NON HIV AIDS"
My federal testimony about NON HIV AIDS from a recent CFS/ME advisory committee meeting (Washington, DC via conference call) posted (5 minutes):
the following is my friend Tom's story, in his own words
I committed statutory rape with a 15-year old male when I was 51. He was my student. I loved and love him whole-heartedly and completely, and promised him unconditional love, long before any sex took place. Human behavior is complicated and has many varieties. This is an unusual story. The government told a cartoon story with broad strokes of black and white.
I was imprisoned without bond, and had my freedom of speech taken away before I had been convicted of any crime. Newspapers printed government press releases without any checking of any facts. If necessary, I will submit to a polygraph on any statement I make, from any independent administrator. Ask those who contradict my statements if they will do the same. If a statement was proved by evidence or the victim's statements, I will put (P). I have discovered that the police falsify information, and distort and manipulate facts and testimony. My belief in the United States has been shaken.
The young man, a South American adopted into an Orthodox Jewish family, was cutting himself in September of 2009 when we met. He told me it was from the frustration with his home life, and not being allowed to be Latino or social, and being forced to observe a religion he found oppressive. He said one sister attacked him physically several times. He is a remarkable, bright, witty, and kind human being, with a fierce urge for freedom. I found him to be extraordinary. He came to see me most days, even more often after he was warned by his parents that I was homosexual, I found out later.(P) He brought a chess board in for lunches when he found out I played chess. We talked about history, religion, politics, psychology. He eventually he told me about the cutting.
I called his father, talked to the rabbis, called a psychologist, put him in touch with a former student with whom I thought he might click (heterosexual), gave him a copy of The Road Less Travelled, the best book I thought on how one gets happy. He kept cutting. I was frantic to help. I promised to love him unconditionally, forever. We loved talking, and I hoped I could make up whatever he lacked. I promised to do anything in my power to help him be happy. I sent him affirmation texts. (Know you are loved, you are great as you are, say "I am a wonderful person," etc.)
Some months later, on the phone, he said we should have sex. I told him that was a "really bad idea."
Some time later, he said he was playing tennis next to my building, and he would come by to work on a project. He came up, and said he was not there to work on the project, but to have sex. I tried to talk him out of it. (P) I said I could love him without sex. (P) He said I didn't have to. I said he did not owe me sex for love. He said he knew he did not owe, he wanted it, and he said I did too. I said sex was not that important, that he should not ask such a thing just for sex. He said it was for true love, that we were soul mates, we would be together forever. I said if we were soul mates then, we would be so in a few years. He said, true, but since we were we did not have to wait. Many times, he said he needed it to live. He confirmed at trial that he believed that. (P) He believed he loved me and that I loved him. (P) I said he should be with someone his age. He said he was attracted to older men. (P) I said everyone would assume it was my fault when it came out (even years later if we were together). He said he would tell them he picked me, and besides, we would be together. He said he had known what he wanted for a long time. He said such things happened all the time. Nothing happened that day (Feb,. 13 2010) We agreed to work it out. The conversation continued the next day with many more reasons for no on my part. He finally said if it was not me, it would be some other older white guy. (P) I agreed on February 14.
I have tried to be a good person my whole life. I try not to manipulate people. I love people without sex; sex and love are not the same thing. I do not even like to have sex with someone drunk, even a boyfriend because of the consent issue. I have always tried to tell the truth. Even in teaching, I would tell students the reason I was doing something (quizzes are designed to force you to read, etc.) I have tried to help the outcasts, with chess and theater. Many students said I saved lives, saved souls.
No combination of things could have made me give in like those. I had to save the life of someone I loved, a soul mate with love so true that 35 years made no difference, and if I didn't do it he would go do it somewhere else. I justified it by saving his life, not denying true love, and protecting him from those who did not love him. It was clearly wrong, but has anyone been subject to such arguments in such a situation? He said, trust me, believe me.
I thought that rejection just might kill him. I thought he wanted to be trusted and believed. I rationalized that the release of sex with someone he loved might stop the cutting. I let myself believe. He said in a statement later he did it for power and control. (P) The cutting stopped for four months until another fight with his sister.
Once I agreed I did whatever I could to make him happy. He was very advanced sexually. He claimed that I was the first, but close examination of his statement excluded from trial makes that claim dubious. He wanted to try light bondage and spanking. I always did what he asked. The prosecutor loved to say "penetrated with objects." I was the far more often penetrated. Everything done was done mutually. He was very happy, almost giddy. Only he could arrange meeting times. I came when he called, and did what he asked. He estimated 50 to 60 times in 5 months. The frequency with which he chose should have been proof of a loving if wrong relationship; I had no ability to arrange to see him. The schedule was his. He repeatedly texted and told me "You saved my life."
I had to move to Virginia to make more money. He said he wanted us to be together, so I remained faithful. I saw him that Christmas break, once, and it was clear he was no longer interested. He had been sleeping with a number of other older men. (P This is factual from his statements, not speculation.) I did not know that until my arrest. He called me to officially end the relationship in January. I was heart-broken, but I never raised his vow of eternal love. I tried to continue loving him as a friend. We soon emailed, and I never asked to renew the sexual relationship. I offered to be a best friend (my choice) or never talk to him if that was what he needed. (P) His emails say things like "Thank you...for everything," and "Not worry about you? Not possible." The emails are available.
He broke contact in early June of 2011. I heard by email from someone claiming to be him in October of that year, but it was not him. I denied the sex, thinking it was his family. I promised to do anything to help him if HE asked, and ended contact with the impostor. It was a Florida law enforcement agent. That was my first offer to turn myself in.
He got in trouble for his sexual contact with men. He refused to cooperate with police. (P) He was locked in psychological facilities for a year. He was brainwashed into changing the facts of what happened, (P) and his attitude was reversed. As far as I can tell, he was locked up for being actively gay. He was 17 for most of that time. In May 2012 he cooperated with police, and contacted me. When he called, I said I was ready to come tell the truth if that was what he needed. My second offer. He said he wanted me to come see him (reversed by police) and that he could not wait until he was 18. (P) I was confused by his previous rejection and now reversal. The policeman, as the young man, sent me sexually suggestive texts and emails, begging for me to renew the relationship, and made me promise to say something on the phone. It was the young man on the phone. I promised, and the young man initiated phone sex at the behest of the police. (P) I tried to decline; he said he had "needs." (P) I came to Florida and was arrested, after telling him twice more on the phone I would come and tell the truth. He was three months away from his 18th birthday at this point. The federal age of consent is 16, but they charged me under the Florida age of 18, but using a federal charge that carried a sentence of 10 to life.
The young man's police statement on which the indictment was based was largely disproved at trial. (P) The federal government charged me under an internet predator law, convinced that there were other victims. The police directed or suggested the false testimony. (P) They said I showed him child porn, which makes no sense. This was dismissed on sentencing, but they used it twice in trial to disgust the jury. They kept hinting at trial and sentencing about other victims, who do not exist, in spite of running a hotline number that was carried in the US and England. I find men from the age of maturity to 30ish more attractive sexually than older men, though not exclusively. Do heterosexuals do this as well? Does a 50 year old heterosexual fantasize about 50 year-ld women? I tried NOT to see students outside of school. I would never seduce anyone; the greatest attraction for me is someone's desire for me.
When the other victims did not appear, they brought in the FBI grooming expert to say I groomed him, since the evidence of persuading, enticing, inducing or coercing was slim. No grooming scenario exists in which the "groomer" waits for the "victim" to ask for sex, and then tries to dissuade the "victim." As unlikely as my story sounds, at trial he admitted that he, not I, proposed sex, that I tried to talk him out of it (and thus he talked me into it), that he BELIEVED he needed it to live, that I said I could love him without sex, and that he said he would find another older white guy if I said no. He AFFIRMED these at trial.
The interpretation of the law for induce as "cause" is to "allow to happen," when it should mean force. Under this absurd reading, this law has a LOWER threshold of guilt than statutory rape; a text message saying "OK, I will pick you up," would convict, without any contact. If every gay teen who texted an older lover were to be found in South Florida, there would be an army in prison. Statutory rape under federal guidelines carries a 41-51 month sentence. I was given 200 months under the persuasion statute. I had offered to plead guilty to statutory rape and it was rejected; they blamed me at sentencing for putting him through the trial.
Most heterosexual women in the same situation are sentenced to probation to two years. The application of this statute was arbitrary and unequal. The prosecutor announced to the jury that he granted that the "sex was consensual." The age of consent in Israel is 15, so in that civilized a country I would not even have committed a crime at all. The rich are sued for this. Where is the moral fairness?
Why was I prosecuted this way? Conservative politics and homosexuality. The family is Orthodox Jewish, the investigator who fashioned the testimony is Catholic, the prosecutor is Republican, and the judge voted for Rick Santorum.
I believed saving his life, or both of us believing it, would mitigate the statutory rape charge. I believed telling the truth and offering to turn myself in would mitigate. Telling the truth was the worst thing I could have done. Had I denied him when he called, and lied, nothing would have happened. I tried to be honest; rejecting him seemed to violate my vow of love.
I do not "blame" him for sleeping with other men. I do not love him less. I would have done anything for his happiness. I would have gladly NOT slept with him. I rationalized that I was being courageous to save his life and risk my own. I felt he was testing to see if my vow of eternal, unconditional love was real. He convinced me we were breaking convention for our mutual happiness. I thought I could serve some years to save him. If it truly saved his life, I wish I could say that knowing what I do now, I would still have been loyal enough to say yes. I would not have had the courage. I am sorry it happened either way.
Does love matter? Does fairness matter? Does the truth matter? When does a person have sexual and religious freedom? Can a conservative family change those by locking someone in psychological units, to change attitudes and alter facts? Does gay sex justify any level of charges, and any lying by the government?
Why is being yourself so wrong? Lesbian, gay, bisexual, straight, and transgender will always find love no matter how much it is hated upon. You are you, I am me, and everyone is who they are, not what they choose. Is our society really that crooked that its thought of as a choice and we can be "saved" because its not a choice, we don't want or need to be saved. We are happy the way we are. I can honestly say I live and love that I am lesbian. I have been me through all the crap I have been put through. I lost a relationship with my mother, that one person you so desparately want to understand and be there for you no matter what. She wasn't there for me. She hated that I was and will always be lesbian. It hurts to lose someone, but It kills to lose your very own mother. I move forward though because I know that I need to make my life MY life. We will always have those people who won't understand, but if we stand together and never stop fighting for our rights and own love they can't do anything to stop us. We will be the ones sleeping comfortably at night.
I hope that you will support this humanitarian issue, and spread-the-news too (e.g., write a story, add to your e*Newsletter and/or post on Facebook/Twitter).
BEST GAY NEWS Magazine published one of my letters about NON HIV AIDS. This marks it’s 7th publication. This topic has been censored from mainstream media since 1992.
I LOVE GAYS SO MUCH AND I LOVE TRANSEXUALS SO MUCH AND I HAD A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH GAYS AND TRANSEXUALS IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.WE ARE LOVERS.THANKS.
TRANSQUAT, A GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM FINDER APP
Now available for download in Apple iTunes Store

TranSquat is a gender neutral bathroom finder for iPhone users that locates bathrooms that are gender free relative to the users current location. It uses the phone’s current GPS location to search, add and share nearby safe locations with other users.
TranSquat was written by and for the trans community and is powered by data from safe2pee - a nationwide directory of gender neutral bathrooms. There are currently close to 4000 locations across the United States, Canada and the U.K. with more locations being added everyday.
This app is useful for transgender and gender variant individuals because sometimes finding a safe, discreet and comfortable restroom can be a challenge and or safety issue depending on where one is in their own transition or geographic location.
The app itself is community driven. Users can help build it by downloading it and sharing safe locations from their own communities. In that sense, a user can download the app and build a network of safe locations no matter where in the world they reside.
TranSquat can currently be downloaded from the Apple App Store at the following URL.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/transquat/id521546602?mt=8
You can also follow TranSquat on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter.
https://www.facebook.com/TranSquat
http://transquat.tumblr.com/
https://twitter.com/TranSquat
###
If you would like more information about TranSquat please e-mail Billy at transquat@rocketmail.com.
Hello. I am posting on behalf of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC: http://www.iranhrdc.org/english/mission.html). We are conducting research on the situation faced by Iranian members of the LGBT community which may be used in the future to document human rights violations. We typically examine public source information along with exclusive interviews with victims and other witnesses. Examples of our previous publications can be found here: http://www.iranhrdc.org/english/publications/index.1.html.
I am writing to ask if anyone would be interested in participating in our project. It is our hope that by interviewing you and offering you a chance to tell your story to the world, we will be able to provide an accurate and objective account of human rights violations taking place in Iran. For examples of our previous work, please refer to our website at http://www.iranhrdc.org.
If you would like to help with our research but would like more information about our organization or our research into this issue specifically, we would be more than happy to discuss it with you. I can be reached at MArdalan@iranhrdc.org or 1-(203)-772-2218 and ask for Mazdak. Thank you for your time.
I ve decided to write our story here only for the peope who understand and can help somehow. To tell in details my life will be a tragic movie. I was born in Georgia, in traditional communist false family, having despot father and weak mother, always had protest against them and all the world who demanded from me to behave as calm girl obey and not have a opinion, that only boys have the right to do whatever they want. From Childhood I wanted to escape, to have freedom and be strong, and then I realized that in this patriarchatic country be a woman means you are half a human or not at all. I had totally boyish interests and played with boys I considered myself one of them. But when I grow up they saw in me a beautiful girl, at that time I already was curious about other girls, and therefore ignore boys, who got agressive and even tried to rape me. All my school time and institute I spend without close friends,nobody understood what I feel I only had platonic love towards one classmate which she never new. I wanted to become a movie director, but heavy political situation in Georgia prevented my studies, We had no electricity and heating. Till age 23 I spend mosto of spare time reading philosophical books to distinguish my identity. Than I managed to go to USA.And from that day I felt i was a human, I have been so happy that Im free at last that I felt I was in the center of universe, ready to conquire mountains. And there began my first real love story. I fell in love with a demonic goddess, which was heterosexual and I become the only exclusive in her life who she loved regardless gender. I spend the most happy days of my life there in NJ which I thought will last forever becaouse I found myself and what I was lacking all my life Trues, true relationships, pure sole. But afterwards we got many problems, first all we had to hide,cannot move.Than My visa expired and I got back which was a mistake, I returned back in USA second time after an year instead of 6 month I promised to poeple there. Everything was changed.I left my love alone and she waited for me 1 year and Im again with tourist visa. She said go, you will again leave me after 6 months,I said I cannot stay illegaly.After 6 months I my parents made me to depart again from USA, I hoped to study to gain student visa and come again as student and make everything to be successful in career and live with her in California. But meantime regime in Georgia changed and they deny my student visa. I did not realize that time how much I loved her, I did not realize that time that it was the end of all, Time passed, She no more waited for me, I got heavy depression,My father died felt guilty about me and that he treated me bad against my will.I ask everyone to help me to return to USA in vain, nobody cared and nobody understand why I wanted to go there. I Could not tell no one about my orientation,all huge emotions I killed in myself and become more depressed. Than They give me antidepressants which cures one from life, and makes you live zombie without any emotions and feelings.Most traumatic was the fact that I lost my talent of creative writing,I felt like am In Jail, time stopped. I did not relised how 7 years passed.Ive tried to fell in love with other, but in vain, the only one I really needed was her this is my last wish not to die without seeing her. I m totally lost in this life, having undergone so much injustice, mistreatment, discrimination, cynism,bullying ,fighting for human rights for humanity for justice, not only because of my orientation, but of the truth and not obeying to others,being an individum and finally they make me weak. Now I have several years left, asking you to help me spend some time again in USA to get me out of this hell, nobody nomore is waiting there for me now, but I want to walk to the places I loved where I found myself and left my heart.
Kini Cosma (541)880-4534 P.O. Box 7918 Klamath Falls, Oregon 97602
MEMORANDUM OF UPDATED FACTS
TO: HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, CASE NO.: P-878-09:
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
FROM: KINI COSMA
DATE: FEBRUARY 22, 2012
REGARDING: UNLAWFUL EVICTION AND EXCESSIVE HARASSMENT
I was profiled as a lesbian and arbitrarily arrested excessively since 1989-1995 (approx 40 times-landing in prison on July 4th, arrested on Martin Luther King Day, arrested 1st business day of 2011, sent to a mental institution on March 1, 2011: my birthday). When I was wrongfully convicted of "stalking", the status was enhanced to include a "sex offense" after I was sent to prison. Branded a “sex offender,” I lost custody of my two sons. The officer has since been charged with excessive force by another attorney.
All legal activities others are entitled to have become illegal for me. All my business ventures were deliberately destroyed and frustrated and they have left me to languish resulting in loss of liberty, civil rights, productive lifestyles, financial and personal ruin, mental anguish, social condemnation and personal and family embarrassment.
I have appealed to the Federal courts since 1995 and ALL of my cases were dismissed without review. All of the difficult and dedicated work I've done was ignored while federal judges demanded that I complete more work. Even though Federal judges know I am not the “Betty Crocker” type girl, they have become obsessed with “curative rape” by forcing their disregard on me making me an object of ridicule and scorn in order that I submit to and service their American Men.
As a result of my legal battles against the U.S. Government, I have become an extremely unfavorable person subjected to and having to suffer severe retaliation. I noticed my $100k rightfully inherited trust fund was wrongfully pilfered/seized after I asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to suspend the powers of the trustee. I also noticed that at least two attempts to entrap me in illegal ponzi schemes occurred while I was suffering brutality at the hands of the Lassen County community in California.
I have also lost other real property and vehicles wrongfully seized and confiscated by the states of California and Oregon authorities.
The state and federal courts, in both California and Oregon, deliberately set me up to fail refusing to grant me asylum or protection from persecution and using me as a human battering instrument for others in the community to abuse, physically and emotionally. Those in the community banter me because they just want me to shut up and go away and endure the sexual harassment. Because of the selfish reasons of those who conspired for my false imprisonment, other malicious prosecutions and judicial injustice has taken place. Impropriety, prosecution for the sake of prosecution, lack of funds for legal aid to prove my innocence and/or other errors of one kind or another, has occurred.
All of the excessive government entanglement running afoul of civil and human rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution without legal support has deeply affected my health. Even though I have brought separate §1983 and §2254 actions against the police and other officials on the grounds that labeling me as a sex offender based upon a policy enacted after my criminal conviction violated my constitutional rights. And, the infringements of the Due Process and Ex Post Facto Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination constitutes cruel and unusual punishment and is in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
The U.S. Government endorsed this cruel and unusual punishment by continuing to identify me as a sex offender, allowing me to be defined as someone who has been convicted, at any time, of any sex offense or [who] engaged in sexual misconduct during the course of an offense. They have continued to recommend that I receive disparate treatment making it their constitutional duty to inculcate cruel and unusual punishment by portraying me to the public that “sexual assault is a heinous crime committed by Offenders with deviant behavior patterns that cannot be controlled by incarceration alone.”
Still no remedies available for these violations or the disparate treatment set forth under Title VII while retaliating and conspiring against my rights under 18 USC §241, there is now substantiated evidence that I am being been tortured to premeditate my murder using their power of abuse to maliciously disintegrate my health.
Just recently throughout August and September 2011, I diligently sought housing. Finally relying on the verbal agreement made by manager's Christopher John and Ericka Little of Wiseman's Mobile Home Park at 6800 South 6th Street in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Previously managers Christopher John and Ericka Little declared to me that they made a visual inspection of my residential travel trailer at another location and approved thereof, preserving the certain space for me to move into on October 3, 2011. Relying on said verbal agreement, I halted any other effort to seek housing else before the winter's debilitating freeze that caused my health breakdown (including hearing loss) the previous season.
I paid the rent and moved my residential trailer in. When I relocated my residential travel trailer to Wiseman's Mobile Home Park at 6800 South 6th Street in Klamath Falls, Oregon, on October 3, 2011, said management used bantering and forcible hostilities1 against me to unlawfully evict me without proper legal notice making the excuse that my trailer was not in compliance to their standards. Said management had a limited contractors license that definitely did not include having the authority to inspect the electrical components in my trailer.
Coincidently, the Klamath County Sheriff's department was right there to assist in these civil matters2 by forcibly running me out of the mobile home park regardless that rent was paid. As a result, I have been housed in an illegal concentration camp type setting with barbed wire all around while staff of the Klamath County Sheriff's Department are, coincidentally, tenants in the immediate vicinity asking me to secure their property.
These actions also have interfered with all of my legitimate home office based businesses. (disconnecting electrical utilities, forcing me to spend money to seek resources the government will block, excessive late fines and fees) The pattern of abuse goes on and on with constant patterns for propensities of humiliation always setting me up in an illegal manner to justify their means for, yet, another malicious prosecution. Having to urinate in buckets and defecate on newspapers prove their successful effort for making me live like an animal unworthy of attention or exposure to their pattern of consistent horrific human right violations.
Regardless of the well-founded fears of persecution on the grounds of my being a member in a particular social group demonstrating my political opinions... I remain ignored and undefined as an disenfranchised, elderly, sex offending-stalker, Caucasian, Jewish, lesbian, woman vulnerable to U.S. Government abuse and oppression suffering their prevailing patterns of consistent years and years of physical and emotional abuse in both California and in Oregon.
While others qualify as refugees to be granted asylum or protection somewhere in the United States, the harm feared is being inflicted by the this government...and by persons and organizations that the government is unable or unwilling to control. I have contacted 1000's of agencies connected only in the legal industries relying on those agencies for answers. While they were asleep, I was sent to mental institution for several months on bogus charges, again, my civil rights were violated. Anonymous people are coming out of the woodwork who I do not know, nor should have any information regarding my civil and human right violations in the communities I am transient in. So, why are they hostile and derogatory using such efforts to intimidate and harass me?
I, Kini Cosma, hereby declare under penalty of perjury that all of the foregoing statements, records on file with this case is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Kini Cosma Dated: February 21, 2012
http://judiciary.zoomshare.com
I was profiled as a lesbian and wrongfully convicted of "stalking". The status was enhanced with a "sex offense" when I was sent to prison. As a result of my legal battles against the U.S. Government, I have become an unfavorable person suffering retaliation because I refuse to service American men.
I have appealed to the Federal courts and ALL of my cases were dismissed without review. In some instances, the state and federal courts, in both California and Oregon, deliberately set me up to fail by using their power of abuse to maliciously disintegrate my health in their acts of premediated murder.
Because of the selfish reasons of others who conspired for my false imprisonment, other malicious prosecutions and judicial injustice has taken place. Impropriety, prosecution for the sake of prosecution, lack of funds for legal aid to prove my innocence and/or other errors of one kind or another, has occurred.
They have left me to languish resulting in loss of liberty, civil rights, productive lifestyles, financial and personal ruin, mental anguish, social condemnation and personal and family embarassment for the remainder of my life.
U.S. officials refuse to grant me asylum or grant me protection from persecution as a result my $100k was wrongfully seized and I loss custody of my two sons. I have also lost other property wrongfully confiscated by U.S. authorities. All of this has deeply affected my health.
In order to qualify as a refugee and be granted asylum in the United States, an individual must have a well-founded fear of persecution on account of one of five grounds, which are (1) race, (2) religion, (3) nationality, (4) membership in a particular social group, and (5) political opinion.
The information contained on http://judiciary.zoomshare.com will reveal a pattern of gender discrimination. You will understand why women in prison are placed in cages. You will understand why women in prison spit at officials only to have their mouths forcibly shrouded. You will begin to understand why women in America are finally waking up advancing Jihad Janes.
In addition to demonstrating a well-founded fear of persecution, the harm feared is being inflicted by the government...and by persons and organizations that the government is unable or unwilling to control. http://judiciary.zoomshare.com
Just Published: "An Orphan No More...the true story of a boy" written by Jerry and Jordan Windle. Jordan is Jerry's 13 year old son. Adopted from Cambodia when he was only 18 months old. Jordan is now the youngest Diver to qualify (at age 12) for the USA Diving Olympic Team Trials in Seattle, Washington. Order this wonderful Children's Book with the foreword written by 4-time Olympic Diving Gold Medalist, Greg Louganis. www.anorphannomore.com or www.jordanwindle.com
This story celebrates the ideal that Love is Love!
Being a senior in high school I couldn't ask for better in the way of being me and getting messed with. I did get bullied a ton when I was in middle school for the preconception that I was gay. Later I finally came out my sophomore year with tons of support that I have now. Slowly I started telling more friends and adults along the way. Now I plan to find a organization in the states so I can start making a difference here at home.
College Speech here at my high school has really brought the advocate out in me this year. I have always fought for the community, but with the ability to get a voice to my class, has made it more wild. An informative speech I have been working on currently has me on the bystander effect and bullying. That has kept me busy with me trying to perfect it as much as I can. I want to be the one person for small towns to make a difference while I am still here. Then my nation and ultimately the world.
All in all, whatever I can do, I will do it. I will be the one that makes a difference behind the scenes. No fame needed, just the pride of a job that I go to everyday and love! I love LGBTQIASP individuals more then you will ever know. This is the era of change. Here we come.
Marion U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. Box 1000
Marion, Illinois 62959
FEDERAL JUDGE IN GEORGIA EXECUTES HOMOPHOBIC AND BIGOTED AGENDA
To Whom It Should Concern:
I am a former physician and Lt. Commander in the United States Navy who is fighting for his freedom in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia. Although my criminal case is complicated and the charges naturally contemptible (illegal pornography found on my computers), I am an honest, God-fearing, American citizen who deserves the benefit of an impartial judge who does not believe that increased prison time can be assessed based on legal, private, homosexual conduct in one's past.
Yet my judge, Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr., believes just that, and he substantially enhanced my prison sentence based on legal gay sex which took place three-years prior to arrest and had nothing to do with the counts of conviction. And, although I realize there is not a fundamental constitutional right to engage in legal, private, gay sex, the Supreme Court has clearly held that (1) it is a substantive due process violation to sentence a man to as much as a fine for such conduct (see Lawrence v. Texas (2003)), and (2) it is "a due process violation of a basic sort" to punish a person simply because he has “done something that the law plainly allows him to do" (see Bordenkircher v. Hayes (1978)).
To be sure, history teaches that there once lived a horrible man who managed to convince thousands of his minions to help him execute a bigoted agenda against millions of Jews, homosexuals and persons of "color" in the 1930's and 1940's in order to create a "perfect" race. The agenda was wrong then, and it is wrong now! What Judge Pannell has done to me is not merely unconstitutional; it is unlawful according to the Hate Crimes legislation codified by Congress in 2008. I need your help to see to it that Judge Pannell's agenda does not gain traction under cover.
Make no mistake; judges are, for the most part, honest, decent people who strive to do what is right when wrestling with a large number of complex, inflammatory situations. Indeed, judges do a tremendous job when they remain loyal to the law, the Constitution, and their Oath of Office (which mandates impartiality as to persons). However, the moment they cross the line and abuse their power to execute a hateful, bigoted agenda, they must be checked. In my case, Judge Brill has refused (see her Order, which is attached) to hold Judge Pannell accountable, choosing instead to excuse his actions under the umbrella of "judicial decisions" which are somehow sacrosanct. She is wrong in her endeavor, and a "government of laws" will surely morph into a "government of men" if her ruling is allowed to stand.
I urge you to read Judge Brill's order and my appeal of that order. I hope that you are in a position to generate public awareness, because I fear that without pressure to do what is right, Judge Pannell (the person to whom the appeal was presented) will simply ignore what he has done.
Please help each other spread love not hate!
I am begging everyone on this site, everyone that posts here with their stories
Or perhaps comes seeking advice. Please don't hate spread love. We need to unite
As LGBT people! We need to come together. I've read some heartbreaking stories
Of hate and violence towards people on here and my heart breaks. No one should
Be told that they are garbage nor should anyone be treated violently because of their sexual
Orientation. Love your family and friends and cherish each day. You are who you are and we are
All unique individuals and we are all special. Sending everyone hugs. jadesama@gmail.com is my email
Address I want to open my email to other LGBT people so we can help one another
I am new to this but I would love to make friends from around the world and lend some support
To the LGBT community. ( : Feel free to drop me an email!
Hello, I am a teenage boy in a small town in New Hampshire. Recently I have been noticing more and more people and children in my town have been more aggressive towards gay and lesbian people nere me, including myself. I was walking down a sidewalk heading toawrds my friends house, when a kid I knew from school pushed me into a wall and spit on my pants, calling me a faggot. I am never one for Violence, or any type of any type of hurting, but I need something to happen before I burst.
As an American girl in her college years, I meet people from all over the world and of all different religions. Although America tends to have some horrendous issues on the subject of gay marriage, they are, overall, quite accepting. Since one of my majors in college is religious studies, I have made a lot of Muslim friends and have learned a lot about Arabic countries. It saddens me to hear of countries where you can be put in jail for life or even put to death for being gay. I simply cannot, whatsoever, understand such ignorance and hatred towards a person simply due to a basic part of their personnage that does not harm anyone else! I'm glad to say though, that everyone single one of these Islamic friends, who come from countries such as Morocco, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, are all open-minded! Whatever their typical religious or cultural beliefs, they all believe in freedom of expression and a person being aloud to be who they are as long as they don't harm others. This, to me, sounds like a major step. Not only are they spreading Arab and Muslim culture that will spread Gay Tolerance here in America, but most of them even hope to do so in mother countries. I can only wish them the best of luck as they attempt to do so, hoping that I too can do something to aid the situations of those countries where gays are put to death simply for being themselves. I've begun to learn a lot about the Qur'an (Koran) and have learned to speak Arabic. I hope to start various online and in-person groups to continue the spread of positive LGBT outlook from the Muslim/Arab community.
In Central Wisconsin, two teenage girls (15 yrs.) were advised to break up, because "it's not something the school likes seeing". I understand PDA restrictions, no one wants to see man and woman, nor man and man eating face in the hallways, it's inappropriate. If the principal simply reminded the girls of the PDA rules and it will not be tolerated in school from either sexuality, that would've been completely okay. But, when a Principal of a "Class A" school is advising teenage girls that their orientation is not acceptable at a PUBLIC school, that is wrong. It is neither this Principals job, nor personal business to get involved with. These two girls should be not only accepted, but encouraged for having the guts to come out and be who they really are. I support you two girls, and any other GLBT. Do not let ridiculous "leaders" like this Principal treat you like that. STRENGTH <3
I am a young lesbian 24 and the community where I live has been growing unexpectenlly and it doing very well and I am looking to move out if my comfort zone and start somewhere new and exellerating and somewhere my family where some of my family lives and in hopes for a new reach in life and helping out and expanding the well being being gay or trans or lesbian is a ok thing and its everywhere
I am not a supporter nor a contender of your groups and this is the only way I know how to get this message to you but I was driving on a highway in the central USA and saw a volkswagon bbeetle painted in rainbow colors from New York I was a bit surprised but was really surprised to see the name "fagbug" printed in large letters on each side now apparently this is some lady out to make a statment and has a website "fagbug.com" but the last time i heard people of the lgbt oreantation took offense to being called or refered to as "fags" and as a straight person even I find it offensive. You may already know of this person and their mission but this seems to be a rather odd way to gain respect by advertising the name/term "fag" with rainbow colors which is very commonly associated to the gay community this is just an fyi for the most part maybe your orginization is ok with it I don't know.
I am a 28 year old woman, in love with a 30 year old woman from Finland. I've always felt that gay and lesbian communities deserve the same rights as heterosexual couples, but to be honest, the issue has never been more personal. I would do anything to be with the woman I love, even move to Finland, but sadly, my entire life will change in a big way. Im studying clinical psychology and I want to help people. I have a large family I will leave behind, and great friends. Im writting this story because I want others to know the pain of being a second class citizen causes. Its not about rights, its about love, and no one deserves to be treated different because the love someone. I will leave my country knowing that Im different and under our federal law, undeserving of love. I love you Emma
This is to announce the establishment of a worlwide online jewelry storem offering designer jewelry for same sex marriages and relationships, there will be a selection of over some 23 hundred styles amd designs of rimgs and weddimg bands for Gay Market and the General Public, These Designs are unique and differant from any jewelry ever seen in the entire world with a money back guarantee in writing take a look @ MyRainbow.com and make your selection from the hundreds offered.
The Honolulu Pride Festival Foundation is starting to kick off this years 2011 Hawaii State Pride Fest hosted in beautiful Honolulu Hawaii September 15 - 17, 2011 and encourage all to come and participate as this year we strive to bring PRIDE AROUND THE WORLD!
As Hawaii and the rest of the United States takes pro-active choices in sharing in the equality and justice for all with long roads ahead the little steps we take will lead to bigger victories for all of our LGBT brothers and sister who do not have the same freedoms we do in America. Help our politicians to understand that PRIDE is one way of showing that we are equal and we do not have to fear the hate and discrimination from the world around us which view us as a minority community who is filled with so called "Sinners". Take a stand and support all of your PRIDE organization around the world as we work hand in hand to creating peace, equality and justice for all!
I would just like to quickly let you know something that happened today:
1) American Idol took out EVERY single LGBT reference from the lyrics in Born this Way on their performance
2) I went on the American Idol forum to (at first) politely complain
3) They deleted my post
4) I posted a not so polite complaint (but still not using any bad words or anything, simply informing them that I would tell
EVERY single organization out there, and then they'd REALLY be in for it). I also posted a comment on one of their popular
threads
5) Both posts were deleted, and my account was banned
6) Unfortunately, Lady Gaga failed to do anything about it when she came on
Now, I am NOT a US citizen, so I CANNOT sue them on freedom of speech and discrimination.
What I would like to propose is that as many of us as possible post complaints on their forum. When they delete everyone, we can
then MASSIVELY sue FOX, which we all know is very much discriminatory.
Maybe that way we can get a spotlight on this issue and quick-start Fox's and many other TV stations' much needed attitude
Hear Me! My Name Is Catherine! - Legally a Woman, Jailed Among Men
A small and fragile transgender woman sits behind bars in solitary in a men’s section of an Idaho county jail for crimes sparked by years of mental and emotional torture brought on by a malicious parent, cruel state actions, and a savage legal system that refuses to recognize the most personal part of an individual’s identity, gender.
Meet Catherine Carlson, a 56-year-old, on her way to prison after years of what she describes as being terrorized by her family, the State of Idaho and the police.
Read her story and listen to Catherine’s emotional courtroom testimony and exclusive jailhouse interviews of why she says she finally came to the end of her rope and snapped.
On July 11, 2010 she set fire to her home and truck and was later arrested walking down the highway naked.
Convicted of first-degree arson, possession of a hoax destructive devise and indecent exposure, Catherine is facing up to 40 years in prison.
In this compelling and heart-wrenching story about one woman’s quest for simple respect and human dignity, Catherine talks exclusively to investigative journalist, Jody May-Chang from the Payette Country Jail as she awaits sentencing.
LISTEN HERE: http://may-chang.com/?p=3099 Photos and more…
I thought you might like to see this shameful story of biggotry at an institutuion of "higher learning" in Texas. Apparently, tolerance isn't part of the learning at SMU:
Just last week, the student newspaper aired a smearing article about a young veteran that was expelled because he was deemed a "safety hazard." The smeared him terribly after he was kicked out of school. It was so sad. This student in the Young Republicans organization will probably be made out to be a hero at SMU. I don't think this is right. It is a very discriminatory school, and someone needs to do something about this.
Kentucky Equality Federation confirmed today that it is beefing up its board of directors with the appointment of veteran activist Richard T. Jones as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. The members initially appointed Jones to the Board, immediately thereafter, the Board elected Jones Chair.
Jones has been with the organization since October 2009, assisting the the president with administration and communications. Jones also chaired the non-Board Discrimination, Hate Crimes, and School Bullying Committee who has handled more than 40 cases in 2010 alone.
Previously, President Jordan Palmer served as ex officio executive Chairman of the Board in the absence of an elected Chair. Palmer had previously resigned from the organization, but returned as interim president at the request of the Board of Directors.
"I will be very involved with our volunteers and officers," stated Jones. "I will continue to work for equality for all people and expand Kentucky Equality Federation's reach as the Commonwealth's largest all-volunteer grassroots gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender organization and mold our future endeavors and alliances."
Jones continued: "Since my involvement with Kentucky Equality Federation, I have been honored to be able to work with Jordan Palmer and be part of an organization who has worked so hard for equality, but most important, a dream of equality for those who truly have yet to experience it. When I wake up in the morning and begin my work for the day, I feel as though I am helping to fulfill a dream that one day will make a difference for a people who eat, sleep and dream of freedom from persecution."
Below is my letter to South Carolina's Senator Jim DeMint, sent in protest of his statements that gay people should not be allowed to teach school.
November 16, 2010
Senator Jim DeMint
340 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Senator DeMint:
This regards your repeated remarks that gay people should not be allowed to teach school. I object to them because that kind of discrimination against a minority violates the Pledge of Allegiance’s promise of liberty and justice for all.
I hereby challenge you to face me on national television and explain why I shouldn’t be allowed to teach. I studied at Master’s level at Harvard University and speak German, French, Spanish and Italian. I have published two novels. The phrase “By Scott Rose” has appeared in over 1,000 venues including Strings, (a publication for *students* of string instruments), The World Scholar (a publication for *students*), Bon Appétit, The Journal for the Study of Anti-Semitism, ShowBoats International, Decanter, Opera News, the New York Blade, Girlfriends, Caviar Affair, the Advocate, Relish’s The American Table and Mia/Enas, a magazine for Greek Americans. I have taught with conspicuously positive results. I have for example guest lectured on the arts in journalism at Brooklyn College. The students loved me. I gave them pointers on how to break into journalism and subsequently learned that some of them have done so.
When you demonize minority members of American society, saying they should not be allowed to teach school, you contribute to the terroristic atmosphere of hatred that results in gay students and teachers living in angst and in some cases even committing suicide. It is therefore most ironic that you of all people have served on a U.S. Senate Subcommittee for human rights. Recently in Tennessee, a lesbian couple found their house burned to the ground and the word “Queer” spray-painted on a remaining adjacent structure. Your demonizing of gay Americans contributes to the ongoing occurrence of such hate crimes. Do you intend to behave responsibly to stop the hate?
In addition to facing you on national television, I intend to organize a group of GLBT teachers from around the country to meet with you in Washington. I will not rest in my campaign to reverse your bigotry until you 1) retract your statement; 2) apologize for it and 3) commit to fostering atmospheres of diversity and acceptance in U.S. schools nationwide.
Sincerely,
Scott Rose
CC: Barack Obama, Rachel Maddow, Anderson Cooper, Charlie Rose, Keith Olbermann, Kenneth B. Mehlman. R. Clarke Cooper, Tony Ortega, Steven Thrasher, Matt Taibbi, other community members
I am a 55 year old divorced gay father of two sons who recently published a book about my life as a homosexual. I am using it as a vehicle to educate society on homosexuality (other than the sexual preference issue)as I believe a more educated society is definitely a more understanding and accepting society and along with that will eventually come equality for all in many areas! My book, LIVING THE DIFFERENCE: an enlightening story revealed for people of all ages straight or gay, is featured in my blog at http://www.thegaylyblogger.blogspot.com
"Welcome to the 21st Century" by Reinaldo J. Rendon
Oct.04 2010
It hasn’t been too long since the recognition of civil rights for women and our black brethren has allowed their successful integration into what has become a more tolerant, even welcoming society to those that were originally oppressed by outdated laws, and fearful politicians. Although society and laws are still adapting to these modifications, their success has depended mostly on the efforts of those who saw conservation of unnecessary old customs as misguided way to conceal inconvenient or uncomfortable truths. By truth I refer to something universal, unaffected by our perceptions; by truth in this case I refer to equality and freedom.
Thousands of years have passed since certain flawed corrupted/outdated values of the church began to persecute "the wicked", from witches to demons as its doctrine spread through all corners of the Earth. Meanwhile, science has been evolving alongside human civilization and society. Although our knowledge and justice systems have supposedly evolved to the point where we understand all capable humans as equals, (and those not fully capable, as still human…sometimes more), we still don’t have laws that protect and grant gay citizens the same rights, protections, and benefits as our heterosexual counterparts.
Greater understanding of the human mind has been achieved since the consolidation of psychology as a social science. No longer “witches”, nor possessed, we understand mentally ill patients and their conditions; we create treatments to aid them, and structure adequate processes to integrate them into society in a way that they can successfully “fuse” with the system. With the progress of science, and its imminent exposure of the truth, many conservatives have come to re-awaken to the idea that Christianity promotes love and tolerance, not hate nor discrimination. I remember a great quote from a great man who once said “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” with a hooker-made-apostle lying at his feet. Although we now frown upon societies that throw stones as ways of punishing their “criminals”, many still throw verbal/mental stones at those who are different simply because they were not educated properly and laws haven’t progressed rapidly enough to protect those in need.
“In recognition of the scientific evidence, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the DSM in 1973, stating that “homosexuality per se implies no impairment in judgment, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities.
After thoroughly reviewing the scientific data, the American Psychological Association adopted the same position in 1975, and urged all mental health professionals “to take the lead in removing the stigma of mental illness that has long been associated with homosexual orientations…Thus, mental health professionals and researchers have long recognized that being homosexual poses no inherent obstacle to leading a happy, healthy, and productive life” (American Psychiatric Association, 1975).
This is true in every sense but the legal one, for denying homosexuals the right to benefit from social/financial unions such as marriage deprives them of certain benefits such as tax-breaks, insurance coverage, or even to be treated as a family member at the time of an accident. The right for a gay American to marry their foreign lover in order to live happily in their free country is impossible; their relationship has no option but to end the moment their foreign “life-partner’s” Visa expires.
Furthermore, the absence of laws that prevent the hate word “faggot” being as commonly used as the hate word “nigger” was before the creation of civil laws that protected the blacks, prevents the social boundaries that allow proper growth of youths in a non-hostile environment. Evidence of this are the (now due to the increasing growth of general acceptance, as the next generation of straight and gay citizens whose education has been updated steps up to the plate) recently public wave of juvenile suicide cases...that are sadly, and ultimately, nothing new...
The point is that people’s lives are still ticking away while bureaucrats place the issue on the back-burner generation after generation, refusing to accept that gay people are equal, and therefore deserve the same rights as everyone else. While most other developed nations in Europe, and even Latin American (Colombia, Argentina, Mexico currently debating it) permit civil unions between homosexuals with equal recognition of all their rights, “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave” continues to ignore the silent screaming of a small, but definetly existent percentage of their population that seeks nothing more but an equal opportunity at happiness. If the constitution and even the declaration of independence place us all as equals, defining America as a nation ruled by majority, that protects minorities…then how can we allow our rights to freedom, financial prosperity, protection of our nation, and even to live safely in peace without being forced to deny who you are slip away from us.
Is there not a separation between Church and State? Does scientific evidence hold any value over social struggle against the conservation of ignorance? Aren’t we all guaranteed the same protections and rights regardless of our race, gender, sexual orientation, or favorite ice-cream flavor? Do societies evolve or change on their own?
Gay (much like “straight” or “bi”) is also not a choice, but it is something that affects everyone, regardless of their race, gender, or religious preference across the globe since the beginning of civilization. Even animals may choose a same-sex life partner as evidenced by the study of the University of Oslo, that states “More than 1500 species where homosexuality have been observed” (“Against Nature? Oslo). Gay should not be a taboo. Gay is not an illness that can be prayed nor drugged away. You can attempt to brainwash someone into becoming straight, but then you would just be hindering their potential to fully experience their lives, and their rights to explore themselves as human beings without hurting anyone.
Would you want your children, or a loved one's child to live unhappily repressed simply because God/Genetics made them in a certain way that the world hasn’t updated fast enough to fully accept them as people? In a world of repression and lies, it would not be difficult for one to marry someone that is secretly gay, and refuses to come out simply out of lack of courage that it takes to live under such different conditions...do you think that could truly be a happy and honest marriage? Think about the children caught within the parental struggle to stabilize their personal mentality and sexuality and their mental health compared to those that grow up in open and caring environments.
With Florida being one of the many states that recognizes gays’ right to adopt (instead of permitting an vast number of children stuck in orphanages or foster homes relying on state budget/care), we join many developed nations who understand the full personal/economic value of all its tax-payers without any form of discrimination. Furthermore, if the violation of the sanctity of marriage is in question, then know some consider divorce a far greater offense, for it breaks an oath made in front God and the State (perjury?)...but it was still implemented into law due to the social necessity that so many people required in order to find financial and personal stability in their lives.
To simplify the concept a bit more:
If Gay-Joe and Gay-Jane were perceived as “people” instead of “gays” by the majority, our society would improve a lot more having provided every normal human being the rights and protections they deserve. People shouldn’t be perceived legally or socially by who they are biologically, but by what they hope to do for the world around them. This would promote a more accepting co-existence between all members of American society, as well as monogamy and general honesty.
Most conservatives that still discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation are mostly misinformed, or choose to ignore truth simply out of the comfort brought on by tradition or some form of profit. Others are closeted gays who envy the freedom, while others are simply out to hate on someone for what they’ve been taught as “sins” to feel a little better about their own faults; however they’re not the ones we allow to write our academic texts, nor are they the knowledgeable authorities we quote when we teach facts in our schools. Also, if gays were allowed to formally unite under the state, and their individual interpretation of God (we all see our Creator differently, we have a right to do so), that alone would promote monogamy and prevent sexually transmitted diseases among all groups (not that gays are statistically in the lead anymore; now replaced by African-American men). This would also allow more people to reconcile with the bonds that have been severed by temples that promote hate and discrimination, instead of providing help to those in need, or uniting the children of God without casting any stones (if they truly do see him as the supreme judge).
I invite you all to re-examine your definitions of justice, violence, and empathy for we are forging today the world of tomorrow, and as we do, we must do so carefully given how this nation has remained the center-stage of the world (at the very least in terms of democratic ideals) for a couple centuries. It shouldn't take global calamities, waves of pestilence, the bloody (in a term familiar to most: expensive) aftermath of riots and wars, or financial meltdowns for people to focus more in building the bridges and crumbling the walls that separate us, before they become bars in the dawn of an age with diminishing natural resources, and the decaying socio-political values that impede people from realizing how much influence they have lost over the basics of their democratic principles. We are all still working on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s dream to make this nation “rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal”…and that no one should be judged by the color of their skin (or the way God/Genetics brought them into the world).
We shouldn’t wait for it to “get better”, it should be “alright” for all who support and believe the democratic spirit of America, a nation conformed of different states that in spite of being slightly different in their ideology, most stand united as those who wish to protect freedom and peace.
Remember, America is “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave”.
I just published an account on my blog of the 1984 International March on the UN for Lesbian and Gay Freedom that was organzized after a call by the ILGA.
http://thecahokian.blogspot.com/2010/09/what-if-they-gave-international-march.html
Ok so I am not sure where to go with this but basically I am in a bi-national relationship with my American girlfriend of two years and I am trying to raise money to spend the upcoming holidays with her...you can read more on my website in the 'about' section at: http://www.binationalcouple.com
singulair
(user currently living in BELGIUM)
posted for
straight
readers
on 12/08/2010
tagged with human rights
+0
These days news is everywhere -- on 24-hour cable networks, tabloids in the grocery store and even on our phones.
But amid the constant chatter and competition for ad sales and ratings, the lines between fact and fiction, entertainment and hostility, thoughtful commentary and hate-based opinions have been blurred. This isn't the recipe for a healthy, informed democracy.
Independent, investigative journalists -- like those at Mother Jones -- are called muckrakers for a reason. They dig through lies, falsehoods and fronts to expose the truth, inform the public and make the world a better place.
Corporate news media can get between the public and the truth. But nonprofit, independent media outlets can ask tough questions about real issues. Their investigative journalists can publish fact-based, in-depth reporting on crucial issues -- the environment, financial reform, BP's mess in the Gulf of Mexico, and the war in Afghanistan -- all without corporate censorship.
THE PEOPLE IN UERTO RICO SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEIR BEHAVIOR TOWARS THE GAY COMMUNITY IN THIS SMALL ISLAND!!! I HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE HERE IN THE US FOR THAT SAME REASON... Y CANT PEOPLE LIVE AND LET OTHER LIVE???
7/7/10
My partner is being discriminated against at her job by her supervisor because of her sexual preference.He has used derogatory terms such as calling her Sr. and Mr. He has questioned as to why she prefers women over men as well as gave her the most difficult labors and has told her that it suits her because she wants to be man, and that what men do. It has been an ongoing situation for the past 3 month. She opted not to say anything due to the fact that she relatively new there. Yet the injustices soften a coworker’s heart and came forward and brought the matter to the attention of the general manager. It is happening so fast for her, she does not know what to do. She is not sure if she should seek legal advice or let her employer settle the situation with the interest of the company in first row…
My name is Alberto Morales, I am a videographer at the New York Civil Liberties Union. I am writing to let you know about a video we just made that features your map of lgbt rights around the world prominently. I wanted to share with you so that you would know that your work is appreciated and that it is our honor to share it with our members. We also hope that you find occasion to send to your members and interested parties.
I was in the U.S. Coast Guard. While enlisted, at the age of 19, I met someone who lied about his age (said he was 17) in efforts to try and have sex with me. I was in CA and was alone and had no family nearby, was trying to make friends. When I met him, he tried having sex with me and, later, told me he was 15. We never did have sex, btw. A few years later, while stationed in MA, the Coast Guard began investigating the "crime". They interrogated me without an attorney for nearly three hours, citing "rape" (they presumed I had raped someone). They searched my car and found directions to places I had been with my boyfriend, but turned the information against me and told the Staff Judge Advocate that I was a "Pedophile...with directions to boys' houses" in my vehicle.
My executive officer told me that I was not to tell anyone about what was going on; however, my chief found out and reprimanded me, telling me that I should have told him (even though my XO ordered me to keep it to myself).
Time went on and I was assigned a Navy JAG officer as an attorney (assigned by the prosecution). He said that I had "nothing to worry about", that I was "the victim in this case". We talked on the phone, but he was stationed five hours away and could never come to discuss the "crime" with me.
My Captain told me that I needed to see him - she knew I was a nice person and told me that he needed to visit so that he could see that I wasn't some "criminal"...she gave me the keys to her government car and offered to give me leave to visit, but he was always too busy to see me.
In the nine months he was assigned to me, I saw him twice: once on the day of the court-martial and once on the day of the Article 32 Investigative Hearing.
At one point, I was told that I would receive an "Other Than Honorable" discharge if I saw a military psychiatrist and was deemed to be neither a pedophile nor a sociopath...
I gladly cooperated. The psychiatrist found me to be neither a pedophile nor a sociopath and recommended that the military not discharge me...
That information was used against me - the prosecution used the information (the fact that I had told him I was gay) against me and began forming information for my trial...
My attorney, at one point, made a comment to me - that I could "Move to Europe and find a sugar daddy"...what made things worse is the fact that he did not honor my request:
I wanted a full-scale court martial. I felt that if a jury of my peers actually think that this guy performed oral sodomy on me (even though he told the prosecution that he did not), then, sobeit.
He coerced me into pleading guilty.
So, I plead guilty to a crime that I did not commit and was sentenced to five months in a Naval Brig (military prison).
During the appeals process, I could not afford an attorney, so was assigned another one by the U.S. Coast Guard.
This attorney told me that she was pretty certain she could get my case overturned; however, just before submitting my information to the U.S. Coast Guard Court for Criminal Appeals, she retired and I was assigned a NEW attorney - one who never even bothered to call to tell me what was going on.
Needless to say - the U.S. Coast Guard upheld my "guilty" plea - even thought I TOLD THEM that I did not want to plead guilty and that I was coerced into doing so by the initial attorney.
It was complete and utter b.s. I know that, if I had thousands of dollars for a lawyer, then my case would have been treated like a real one.
To make it worse: the ACLU and SLDN (both of whom preach "helping gays out") both said that my case was not important and that they could not help me. Now, people donate MILLIONS to both and NEITHER could donate money for my defense.
Hello, everyone. I myself, am not a homosexual. I do know many lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders. My school has "banned" the national Day of Silence. They will not allow us to pass out flyers, or even speak of it. The person who organized it somewhat is being suspended for his actions. I find it horrible that a school who speaks of anti-bullying would "ban" a nonviolent protest. Please, I would like this to be noticed. I will not stand for this. I am also notifying the local news to see if they can do a report on it. My school is Spotswood High School in Penn Laird, VA.
~Calm Protester.
Hello,
I am the daughter of a lesbian. I love my mom very much and support her completely. As I child I was ridiculed, and isolated because of this. I lived in the bible belt and the people there were closed-minded and hurtful. I want to be a part of this movement to CHANGE MINDS! Equal rights are for everyone! One day, (wo)mankind will realize that we are all equal.
I just want you all to know that there are other people that support your cause, not everyone has hate in their heart. I cannot wait to live in a world where foster children get placed in loving homes instead of being moved around and feeling unloved because "there aren't enough straight people to adopt them". A world that understands that there are more than two genders. A world that will let my mom get married. A world where everyone really is equal.
and I want to help any way I can.
I love everyone.
I really don't understand the way some people believe they have the power to decide who deserves the right to get married, and who doesn't.
Being straight doesn't make you a moral and perfect citizen, nor assures you that your marriage will last forever, or whether you will raise your children properly or not.
If that was true, there wouldn't exist divorces, or family abuse, because straight people would always defend family values and cohesion within society. I guess I don't need to explain that's absurd.
I have never heard about societies that collapsed because of a sexual revolution. I dont' think Mayans dissappeared becuase they legalised gay marriage, or maybe Romans collapsed because they tended to organize orgies, am I right?
The only thing I can agree with you, is that feelings are the only requirement people should have to get married. If a man and a woman who love each other can marry so easily in a small Chapel in Las Vegas (oh, what a nice way to honor the sacred definition of marriage!), why can't gay couples do that?
I don't understand the fact that marriage can be put on jeopardy by gay couples... throughout History there has been (and it still exist) polygamy and family marriages between members of royalty. However, I don´t see anyone complain about it.
So let's be sincere on this: gay marriage won't put on risk families, because straight people will continue to get married and they will also have children!
Kate Hunt, a high school student in Florida, USA, faces prison – all because her girlfriend's anti-gay parents were angry that their daughter was dating another young woman. They went to police just two days after Kaitlyn's 18th birthday, claiming she had assaulted a minor.
If Kate is found guilty of "sexual battery" she could face 15 years in prison. But this isn't about a crime – this is about a consenting, high school romance between teenagers little more than two years apart in age. Please sign here to tell Florida Assistant State Attorney Brian Workman to drop the charges.